This Cilantro Lime Chicken is such a simple, flavor-packed recipe! It is a great way to transform ordinary chicken into something amazing!
Cilantro Lime Chicken
I’m so excited that we are finally approaching the grilling season! It’s been a long winter, I for one am ready for some consistent sunshine! This cilantro lime chicken recipe makes me feel like it’s summer. For starters, the chicken is grilled and what do you we do in the summer? GRILL! Secondly, the taste of this chicken is garden-fresh, with its bright-tasting lime juice and vibrant cilantro.
Easy Cilantro Lime Chicken Marinade
The marinade for this cilantro lime chicken is incredibly simple and I’d be willing to bet you have all the ingredients ready to go! Fresh lime juice, cilantro, cumin, paprika, salt, and garlic powder are all you need! I pour everything into a large ziptop bag and set my chicken in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to an hour. Feel free to customize the marinade. You could add fresh garlic, pepper flakes, cayenne pepper or more cumin. A touch of lemon juice would make an excellent addition! You could grill this chicken on a grill pan or even pan fry it in a skillet. Prepare this chicken any way you can.
What Can I serve with Cilantro Lime Chicken?
While I like to serve this cilantro lime chicken with rice and black beans, it would be wonderful for tacos, homemade burrito bowls, as a sandwich or shredded and used for nachos. The chicken flavor works well with fresh avocado, so no matter how you enjoy this chicken, be sure to top it with fresh avocado slices or chunks! Fresh salsa, guacamole, or fruit salsa (like a pineapple-mango salsa) would pair nicely as well!
Tips Tricks and Variations
Can you make Crockpot Cilantro Lime Chicken?
Yes! You just need to start with frozen chicken (otherwise it will cook to fast and dry out). Place the frozen chicken in the bottom of a greased crockpot. Top with remaining ingredients (minus the lime juice) and add in about 1/2 cup of your favorite salsa. Cover and cook on low heat for 7-8 hours or high heat for 3-4 hours. Stir in lime juice
Can you make Cilantro Lime Chicken Tacos?
Yes, and you should! For this variation, I like to shred the chicken after it is cooked on the grill. Serve the shredded cilantro lime chicken with taco shells or tortillas, adding your favorite toppings. I like to use shredded lettuce, fresh pico, and cotija cheese. You could also add diced tomatoes, diced avocado, or sour cream.
Ingredients
- 4 chicken breasts
- ¼ cup fresh lime juice
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
- Place chicken, lime juice, cilantro, and seasoning in a ziptop bag. Refrigerate chicken for 30 minutes or up to an hour. (Marinating chicken for longer can result in a tough chicken.)
- Preheat an outdoor grill or a grill pan to medium-high heat. (I like to coat the grill with oil to ensure the chicken doesn’t stick.)
- Remove chicken from marinade, discard marinade, and grill chicken for 5-6 minutes per side or until juices run clear and chicken registers 165 degrees.
- Garnish chicken with limes and extra cilantro if desired.
